Southeast Asia Insights

China’s navy launched a long-range ballistic missile on Monday, July 6, from a nuclear-powered submarine into Pacific waters. China’s state news agency Xinhua said the missile carried a simulated nuclear warhead, adding that the Chinese military did not specify where exactly the missile landed.   The launch triggered protests and concern across the region. For Southeast Asia, the most important question is not only where the mi...

Some of Southeast Asia's largest energy companies are joining forces to produce more oil from fields that have been operating for decades. Rather than searching for new discoveries, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand are working together to extend the life of existing oil fields using technologies that can recover oil previously left underground.   The initiative reflects a broader effort to strengthen Southeast Asia's energy security after...

Editor's Note: This article is Part 1 of a three-part investigative series examining how climate change is reshaping health across Southeast Asia. Part 1 explores the spread of climate-sensitive diseases in the Philippines, Part 2 investigates the hidden health consequences of disasters in Vietnam, and Part 3 examines the growing mental health burden of environmental change.   Climate change is increasingly being measured not only in stron...

Thousands of members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), one of the Philippines' most politically influential religious organizations, gathered at the People Power Monument in Quezon City on June 30 to protest corruption charges filed against Senator Rodante Marcoleta. The demonstration caused major traffic disruptions, several arrests, and clashes with police, but it also highlighted something larger than one legal case.   What began as a ral...

Governments traditionally prepare for threats that cross borders: invading armies, hostile navies, or military confrontation. But across Southeast Asia, some of the region's most serious security risks arrive without soldiers or missiles.   Climate change is disrupting food production and displacing communities. Cyberattacks increasingly threaten critical infrastructure. Food insecurity and weak governance create conditions that undermine ...